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Ryan Malcolm has found his place in "Home"

PlanetStar | 06/27/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Ah Ryan Malcolm. The geeky (but geeky-sexy) waiter who, in front of millions of adoring Canadians, rose to stardom. Sounds like a dream come true for Ryan. The dream come true for his fans is the album. It is a brilliant showcase of Ryan's vocals, versatility, passion and, in three tracks, songwriting. The way I see it, the cd can basically be divided into two categories - upbeat, high-energy songs, and slow, mellow tracks. The first category contains such songs as the incredibly bright, hook-y "Star of all the Planets", which Ryan co-wrote and became his single. The lyrics speak of adoring a woman from afar and wishing she knew how much he cared, and the stellar melody and words should have made it a far bigger radio hit than it was. Other great tracks are "Absolutely Perfect", which has the great message that, even though things aren't always roses, they will turn out perfect, "Ride", a fun, summery song (another one Ryan helped write), "I Gotta be Me", a fun song about being yourself, and "Nothing Left to Say", Also similar are the poppish plea for the best woman in "Good Girls" and the determined "Straight up the Middle". These songs all beg for an audience to sing along and dance.The second category is much tamer, and, if you are sappy and emotional like I am, many of the songs will make you cry. It includes Ryan's idol single, "Something More," and the title track, "Home". This song is one of the sweetest, most beautiful love songs I have heard in a very long time, and it is extremely fitting it be the title track. Ryan also co-wrote "Your Heart Will Know," a story of waiting and eventually finding love. "You Made this Fool Become a Man" was Ryan's third single, and an excellent choice, because it reveals his tenderness and emotion, as well as showcasing his upper range. "Crash & Burn" is an amazing song with a very poetic meaning, as is "Memory Lane," and "October Skies" is a fun ballad about spending time with the one you love.Also on the album is a cover of "Don't Dream it's Over" sung with runner up Gary Beals. Although Gary was arguably the least vocally compatible with Ryan of the top 4, in this song, their voices mesh nicely in this mildly cheesy song. Overall, the album has something for everyone. Many of the songs are realistic and easy to relate to, and the CD has taken on a lot of personal meaning for me. Anyone who doesn't give Ryan a chance because of his image or Idol background is only cheating themselves"